The villagers are loathe to mention the Sentinel's sandals, let alone guide you there. It is considered off-limits, but everyone has a story of secreting there as a rebellious teenager or hiding out from a churlish spouse. You follow the narrow path they describe along the mountain range. The fog is so thick you have no landmarks, but for the sounds of the churning lake below to the east.

Brodd led his mule down the path, staying toward the middle front of the group. Where he can chat with Pock!

Einhard cautiously led he group down down the narrow path. "I can't see a damn thing in this damn fog. Mind your step." Each step was a ginger exploration of his foot seeking a solid foundation to support his weight. All the while, he kept his hand firmly against the wall to his side as they descended.

In reply to Einhard (msg # 3):

[Did you take your horse or leave it stabled?]

In reply to DM (msg # 4):

he would take Starshell's lead on that, but assumed we left them stabled and will be returning after we retrieve her scarf

The paladin walked silently beside her uncle. Thunder echoed in the distance with occasional flashes of lightning. Rain began to fall as occasional droplets and gradually growing heavier as sunlight faded.

Pock went along with Brodd, trying to keep close to the mule since his head was nearly under the fog line. At Einhard's comment, Pock quipped, "At least your head's above the fog! I'm wandering blind here, led only by a donkey. Thanks, Brodd."

The oldster was firmly intent on staying at the Inn, letting the foolish search for their quarry...

...but his curiosity could not be contained. A new path to see, perhaps one which none of his order had yet trodden... and named Sandal... yes, he would attend, if not to capture the wily scout, then to explore.

"C'mon flea-bag, we'll be needed, I'm sure of that..."

Chomper awoke from his nap beneath the table, shook his head, and got to his feet with a huge stretch.

"What? Going after him? He got away! Quite theatrically I might add!"

There seemed to be little he could say to dissuade the more militant of his companions. He'd expected more of Brodd and Pock, but perhaps the old goat's droning on about a coinage deficit had compelled them.

"Alright, alright, I'll go, someone needs to record the tale..."

"Want an apple Pock? I'm giving one to Rose, she's a good girl." he feeds an apple to the mule and hands one to Pock if he wants it.

"Who am I to turn down food?" Pock plucked the apple and got to eating.

Leohart wonders the sanity of trying to track a scout into the mountains.  Even in a box canyon, there are too many places to hide.  But he will keep his own counsel for now.

"My Lady,I must insist that you don't go jumping into some humanoid-infested burrow like a common...um...er...gopher! Your survival is  paramount to our quest!"

"I think our Lady Starshell can decide for herself which burrows she'll be jumping into, wouldn't you agree, Catweazel?" Pock took a good bite out of his apple.

In reply to Pock Oneshoe (msg # 14):

Brodd nodded agreement with Pock as he took a bite of apple as well. With his left hand he held another apple for Rosie to eat.

"We've a reward waiting for us, and we have in our possession the means by which we may claim it... Lady Starshell. My interest in this hunt is purely self-interest. I wish to see these Sandals, for something rings in my mind and heart that the One Who Wanders would have me tread this path. I'm not particularly interested in bringing Travis to justice, we all know how it is to be accused of crimes and pressured into making decisions from which there is no easy path to navigate!"

The old cleric scratched absently at the ears and neck of the huge pack-dog that was both beast of burden and protector, and - were it to be truly known - a very close and beloved companion.

"The Lady gets killed or lost, not only do we lose our reward, but the rumored War my be kindled because of this! I'm willing to accompany you, but could we not return here after our current mission is accomplished and we have upon our persons the means with which we can pay for our very room and board?"

He glared over at Brodd and Pock, "By the way, where did you get the apples?"

"By my tattered breeches man, what's come over you? The first warm food, warm hearth, and warm seat you come across in a good long while and your spirit has gone cold on us! Perhaps there's some relic of your Wandering God down there, perhaps He's left some sign or... or... artifact or cryptic text! I say we get two rewards, Travis and the Lady! We've survived some fairly tenuous circumstances up to now... I doubt our Luck's completely run out!"

Harald was optimistic and cheerful to the point of annoyance at times.

In reply to Regdoc (msg # 16):

"I keep them in a bag on Rosie, they're getting soft and wormy, but she don't care."

"You let them get wormy?" Creston's face twists up, a litle. "You should have thrown them out and bought new ones, while we were in town."

"She don't mind a worm, and I did buy more, that's why I still have some. These are good uns. I give the older ones to her first to get them eat up with a good one every other one to keep her happy."

"And happy she is, Brodd. Now, Regdoc, where's your sense of adventure? To hell with room and board. There's our fugitive friend down there, some kind of sandals, uhhh, a cliff." He had quickly run out of adventurous things to point out, and took a bite of his apple as he pet Rosie idly.

"You know what is worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm?  Biting in and finding half of a worm."

In reply to Leohart (msg # 22):

"That's you Leohart, Rosie don't care about no worms. The two of us got fresh apples, you want a fresh one Leohart?" Brodd asks.

"Thanks, no, I had my protein today."

Brodd shrugs his shoulders at Leohart and continues to lead Rosie down the trail.

The rocks and moss beneath your feet give way to flat slate. You can make out the shadows of two flanking hills ahead, then the fog parts for a moment and you see that these hills are indeed crumbled statues of sandaled feet, each of them easily the size of the ship you sailed on previously. The original statue must have been massive indeed!

"Ahhh, the sandals I assume! By the gods it must have been massive and truly ancient!"

Regdoc's footsteps faltered as he beheld the sight before him. He took a long look at what was left of the crumbling statue, his mortal mind reeling at the sheer immensity of the depiction.

He dropped to one knee and bowed his head, speaking quietly the words of prayer. "Lord of the Roads, Trails, Paths and Byways of this World, I implore You to make this known to Your humble servant... Is this place, or was it once, a tribute, shrine, or representation long lost and left to ruin, of Your Ever Wandering Avatar?"

Chomper sat at the old cleric's side, eyes and ears forward, intent at this time to understand and warn of danger.

"Those are some mighty big sandals to fill!"

This message was deleted by the player at 13:25, Thu 13 Aug 2020.

"I could probably fill them with plants, Leo."

Pock stared up in wonder at what little he could make out of the great statue's sandaled feet, finishing his apple as he mused on what, exactly, possessed mortal races to create monuments of this size.

The bard wandered over to take a closer look at the remains of the statue. "This is amazing! There must be a quarry nearby, but the manpower this must have taken to construct... or magic," with a sideways glance at the kneeling cleric he added, "...or divinity..."

Legend Lore: Harald rolled 2 using 2d6.  Legend Lore, 2 in 6 chance.

Harald caught a hint of verse with the ode at sunset. But as he begins plucking the chords looking for a full but forgotten song it was attached to...

[PLEASE ROLL PARTY INITIATIVE]

In reply to DM (msg # 34):

10:19, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 6 using 1d6.  initiative.

Scrabbling sounds and a crumbling chunk of marble clattering down the ankle of the left sandal (facing east) gives you a critical second to react as vague silhouettes of goblins line up above the party, their row of spears lowering to aim...

Brodd raises his shield overhead, "Goblins from above!" he shouts in warning to the others and grabs his club!

Creston wastes no time getting an arrow nocked, drawn and pointed at the Goblins.

"I see the Sandals are already filled with Goblins."

Alietra grabs her shortbow and readies an arrow, aiming at the goblins.  She scans the silhouettes, attempting to estimate the number of goblins before her.
This message was undeleted by the player at 15:15, Thu 13 Aug 2020.

Leo makes sure we aren't surrounded and moves to the rear,staff at the ready.

Jarvak readies his sling.

"Who speaks Goblin here? Ask them if they found the scout! Tell them I'll pay for him! More if he's alive!"

In reply to Jarvak Amendola (msg # 41):

Brodd shakes his head, he does not speak goblin.

Dwargar raises a hand to the side of his mouth and shouts a gutteral tongue at the goblins.

There's a consternation as a couple of them argue then shout back. The dwarf turns to the bounty hunter.

"They said.."

12:25, Today: DM rolled 10,8,15,1,7,15 using d20,d20,d20,d20,d20,d20.  rain of spears.

12:28, Today: DM rolled 3,2 using d6,d6.  spear damage.

Dwarghar stops in mid sentence as a pair of spearheads bite into his shoulders.

Also there's a scream from above as an unbalanced goblin tumbles to his death and crumples on the base of the sandal. His spear lands point-up a second later and clatters to the flat marble.

Leo will wait for the group of goblins to get within 40' and hopes to cast "Sleep".

Pock, readying his bow, avers a short "Please, don't kill us!" on the off-chance these goblins speak the kobold language. Then he begins loosing arrows if he can see any goblins--or even if he can't, wagering that arrows whizzing overhead might convince them to refrain from peaking out to hurl more spears.

OOC: "13:47, Today: Pock Oneshoe rolled 20,1,19,4 using 1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6.  prospective attack + damage, rounds 1-2."

[DM: Only one shot at a time. The first attack was critical for a solid 6 points]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:41, Fri 14 Aug 2020.

"Find us cover!" Regdoc barked (heh) at his dog. Looking toward the opposite sandal from whence the goblins appeared, Regdoc and Chomper scrambled. Then, from whatever cover they'd found, the old cleric attempted to sling a stone, perhaps more in defiance than danger to the goblins...

Move toward cover
Attack (Sling): Regdoc rolled 19 (20) to Crit! for 2 damage (min 1 x 2 for crit). ::eyeroll::

[DM: Critical hit for a solid 4 points of sling damage]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:42, Fri 14 Aug 2020.

Harald, realizing the wisdom displayed by the old cleric, followed suit and headed for cover from the goblin's spears, spit and whatever else the little monsters might project his way!

"Shame we don't have Travis here now! His bow would sure have proven useful!" the bard declared as he donated an arrow from his own bow...


Move: Follow Regdoc to cover
Attack (Bow): Harald rolled 5 to miss!

Seeing the others take cover, Leohart will follow suit.

Alietra also moves towards anything which will cover her small frame, only after unleashing one of her own arrows.


Move: Towards cover
14:57, Today: Alietra rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Short bow attack.

As she moves towards cover, quietly hopes that no one saw her poorly aimed arrow,and vows to make the next one count.

In reply to Alietra (msg # 49):

09:41, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 1 using 1d20.  to hit.

Brodd misses the goblin he slung at, hits a rock and gets a 'stinger' so bad he drops his sling!
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Fri 14 Aug 2020.

[DM: Club? Do you mean sling?]

Okay, that high up.

Creston lets loose his arrow, then runs for higher ground, not stopping until he can get the angle on the Goblins.

((07:29, Today: Creston Fairwood rolled 22,5 using d6+3,d6.  Bow shot.))

22
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Sun 16 Aug 2020.

Einhard raises his shield high and moves toward the sandal to look for a path to climb or circle around to the goblins location. "Cowards!" he called out to the troublesome runts above. "I'm coming for you, so you better run now while you can."

Starshell raises her shield to protect her tutor, the old wizard Catweazel.

The bounty hunter hurls a slingstone up at the goblins, but the stone falls short.

12:06, Today: Jarvak Amendola rolled 12,2 using d20+2,d4 ((10,2)).

Three goblins scream as they fall to their deaths down the side of the colossal foot.

Brodd, holding his shield up, follows Einhard looking for a way up to the goblins. With a sling, he sucked!

Manaku fires off an arrow with grim determination, and a fourth goblin falls

11:31, Today: DM, on behalf of Manaku, rolled 22,4 using d20+2,d6 ((20,4)). Crit=6
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:34, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

Leohart might be hopeless in battle, for now, but he will still try to make his way nearer to the goblins.  He does have some options.

Another barking set of commands, and the goblins hurl another half-dozen spears at the adventurers that struck their comrades. Regdoc and Manaku are not able to dodge the spearheads in time.

10:08, Today: DM rolled 10,6,16,6,3,18 using d20,d20,d20,d20,d20,d20.  spears thrown at Pock, Regdoc x2, Brodd, and Manaku x2. - [roll=1597932497.50579.314787]10:09,

Today: DM rolled 4,6 using d6,d6.  spear damage to Regdoc and Manaku.

Manaku's bow falls to cracked plain of white marble between his feet. Droplets of silver moon-elf blood splash in a tight pattern on the ground, and the elf collapses with a sheaf of iron jutting from his collarbone.

"Manaku!!? Are you alright! Regdoc?" Brodd stops mid-step trying to decide to help Einhard or help the wounded! He headed back toward the two, Manaku looked bad!

Creston lets loose another arrow, then tries to climb even higher.

((08:30, Today: Creston Fairwood rolled 17,3 using d20+3,d6 ((14,3)). ))

Manaku's life force is running out. [-1 hp]

In reply to DM (msg # 65):

Brodd checks Regdoc and sees he is hurt bad, but awake. Manaku was unconscious! Brodd called down the powers of the gods to lay a healing hand on Manaku.

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 66):

[1d6+1]

In reply to DM (msg # 67):

13:39, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  CLW.

The elf shudders and gasps, his crimson eyes widen as he draws breath again.

Leohart attempts to get within 30 feet of the enemy and casts "Sleep".

Pock lets sail another stone, moving in close to Brother Brodd.

OOC: "14:15, Today: Pock Oneshoe rolled 18,5 using 1d20,1d6."

"AIIIIIIII!!!"

*THUMP*

Alietra maintains her cover and squints to try to make out the silhouettes, before taking another shot.


Alietra rolled 14,1 using d20+1,d6.  Short bow attack.

You hear a yelp from above.

The rows of goblins fall back, out of line of sight, followed by some scrabbling sounds.

Leohart will try to get a view of the goblins.

In reply to Leohart (msg # 76):

You look up through the mists as you circle the mighty marble heel, looking down occasionally to avoid the broken corpses of fallen goblins. No sign of them yet. Curious.

Creston continues to occupy high ground, hoping to get a glimpse of those Goblins.

Pock watched his companions advance, following at a distance with a stone always ready in his sling.

"I guess they have crawled back into their holes.  Probably waiting for us to forget about them to attack again."

Alietra gets the attention of her companions as she makes a "shh" gesture with her finger, and attempts to look and listen to where the goblins may be.

Today: Alietra rolled 2 using 1d6.  Hear Noise.

<Goblin>”You want hostage? Take hostage! Now GO AWAY!”</goblin>

You here a scream from up top at the ankle, which turns into cries of OW OW OW OW as a body rolls down the length of the foot, bouncing off each stone lace. The figure teeters on the big toe and struggles to maintain balance, then falls to the ground with a THUD.

Jarvik rushes over with manacles at the ready, and pulls back the hood.
He curses and throws down the manacles in disgust.

”This isn’t Travis! It’s a bloody ELF!””

Regdoc gasped and coughed weakly. The spear wound was bad and he was leaking blood like a gnomish barrel tap leaked wine. Fantastic inventors those week folk, but the old cleric often wondered why they couldn't fabricate a decent tap. Regdoc grunted, held the end of the spear toward his trusty pack dog, "Grab hold you filthy wretch!"

Chomper caught the spear shaft in his huge mouth, his sharp teeth making dents into the wood. He looked at Regdoc, cocking an eye as if asking, Are you sure about this?

Regdoc grunted and then motioned for Chomper to pull... which he did. The cleric looked toward the far horizon, direction was not important, and stifling a cry of pain, called upon the Wandering God for aid before collapsing.

A moment later, he heard Brother Brodd and felt himself being shaken awake. He groaned again and pulled his bloodied hands away from the wound, revealing that it was completely healed!

"Praise His Dusty Footsteps!"


Cure Light Wounds on self: Regdoc rolled 5 using 1d6+1 ((4)).

The bard hunkered down and waited for another opportunity to strike with his bow. They'd taken a couple of casualties, but both looked to have been graced by concerned Deities to continue their sojourn upon this world...

"We'd best get the elf and move along before those gobs find their courage anew!"

In reply to Harald (msg # 84):

"Who are you master elf?" Brodd asks the newcomer before them.

Alietra looks and sees the dog rip a spear out of the old young man.

"Regdoc! I... "

Before she can say anything, she sees the fellow shouting with happiness, without a wound. She sees Manaku in similar health.

(Whew)

"Reminded again of why I chose this strange and wonderful group."

She maintains cover (limited armor afterall) and readies an arrow in the direction she heard the noise, waiting for anyone who would pose a threat to those around her.

Seeing Brodd looking over the newcomer elf, Pock took a position nearby and kept a stone ready in his sling, keeping an eye out. The image of the diminutive and goofy-looking gnome, half-shrouded in fog, attempting to watch over his tall friends was ridiculous.

"Got him Pock? Who are you elf, what were you doing that the gobs got you?"

The newcomer to the party tries to speak, but he is still disoriented from being thrown down the laces of a colossal stone sandal.

He mutters something between coughs that sounds like Aerosol Ankhenatun.

Efforts such as slapping the elf and splashing wine in his face are not enough to rouse him, at this time.

"Maybe we take him somewhere safe and he'll wake up later?"

In reply to Pock Oneshoe (msg # 91):

"Yes, perhaps I'll be able to heal him later, maybe Regdoc can too. Once we're free of these gnats above."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Having no luck finding a path to climb up the goblins, Einhard returns to the group. "No sign of Starshell's scarf. We must continue searching."

Leohart gets ready to go back to searching, but it leery of goblins in the area.

Gorn keeps his hands on his bow, eyes alert for the goblins.

"It appears we lost our quarry Pock, Travis is gone without trace, now we have another helpless one to help."

Brodd looks over the elf to check his wounds.

"Perhaps we should set up camp next to the other sandal, on the opposite side so they can't shoot at us from their vantage point above."

"That sounds as safe as anywhere else to me, Your Highness." He turned to Brodd, started trying to support the weight of this elf. "Well, friend, let's get this elf over there."

Leo will help carry the elf.

Oi! what's this? Duarghar looks at the sandle.
They ain't climbers hiding in just any old hole...

Duarghar looks at the others. These sandles are a deliberate hidden staircase - look at that angle and the stone work! This is the path and it goes right on up!

"Should we follow?"

"We might want to get this elf conscious before we do anything like that."

"I would be willing to go up, but certainly not alone"

Alietra looks around at those who haven't spoken yet.

"Falling back and getting the elf conscious first is also an option.  What do you think?"

"To the opposing sandal, I think! Be plenty of time when this man's up and at it, says I."

"The Lady Knight here has a point. This lair may be to cramped too hold all of us at once. We could get trapped by our own numbers if they ambush us. You ever had to squeeze out four people stuck in a dungeon's door frame? It's not pretty."

Leohart tries one again to rouse the elf.

"Aye, I don't like the idea of camping when there are goblins close."

In reply to Gorn (msg # 107):

"Return the lady to her family, Travis is gone now." Brodd said "We shouldn't hang about with these goblins nearby."

The bounty hunter spits.

"Fine. You've got your mission and I've got mine. Whoever wants a share of the bounty and a split of the spoils along the way, set up camp with me. The rest of you can head back to the village."

He holds a lantern up as he leans in and stares in the sick elf's eyes.

"He's been held underground too long. Months, probably. Goblin chow's bad enough, but goblin prisoner food must be even worse. Not even counting what they did to him when they were bored. He'll be lucky if he makes it. Get this elf a clean cot by the fire before he passes on."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

"Try water, Leo."

Leo takes a cloth and some water and washes his face.  "Didn't seem right to just throw it at him."

After that, Leo will help move him to a cot near the fire.

Regdoc had been assessing the elf while the others conversed about how to proceed. The elf was in bad shape and needed more care than they could give him in these circumstances. There was a significant degree of turmoil about some decision going on behind the piercing eyes of the Seeker.

"I'll take him back and get'im right again. Though I would dearly love to explore further with you and learn the secret of these Sandals, I feel that He Who Treads And Has Trodden wishes me to care for this unfortunate."

"Will anyone help me?"

Chomper nuzzled the sick elf and whined a bit, raising his ears to accept the plea for aid, for humongous canine guardians have no hands with which to volunteer.

"You just want to rest by the fire and lick the pots, you don't fool me with your false empathy!" Regdoc accused his hound even as he scratched him behind the ears.

"Best of luck to you all, I'm sure we'll meet up again, the Path Goes Ever Onward!"

After only a brief pause, Harald spoke up. "Wait! Wait a moment I say! I shall aid you old man, this elf may have many untold tales that will be lost forever should I fail to assist in his recovery. And I simply cannot bear that it should be so..."

The eccentric bard helped to fashion a travois to Chomper by which they could drag the elf back up the trail to the walled town.

"Heard that in a story once... ought to work I should think!"

He waved to the others and joined the old Cleric of the Wandering God with their shared elven burden.

Dwarghar starts up the stairs and looks for signs of the goblins or other interesting stonework.

I won't go far, you can play with the elf.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:47, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

As the two drag the elf off for better care, Leo says,"Now we might consider moving on."

"I'll be more useful scaling the sandals than taking care of the elf"

Alietra looks nervous about splitting into snaller groups, but stands near the bounty hunter.

In reply to Alietra (msg # 116):

Brodd will stay with the party, they'll need him!

The elf seems to be resting comfortably as he expires and passes on to the Elysian Fields.

In reply to DM (msg # 118):

"If only I had another Cure spell!" in a distraught voice!

"Those prayers don't heal the weakness from long and slow starvation."

"Do you think it's too late? I've got half an apple, and Brodd has more. Should we feed him?!"

In reply to Pock Oneshoe (msg # 121):

"Sorry Pock, he has expired, nothing to do but bury him now. The goblins killed him! We need to kill the goblins!"

"I agree, we should clean the goblins from this area."

Alietra looks sadly at the elf.

"What if he was not the only hostage of the goblins? We should proceed with caution, in case there's a small chance of finding another"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

"We do believe they have at least one more."

"No sense wasting time then. Let's move!" Einhard turned to the thief. "Do you mind leading the way to ensure there are no traps waiting for us?"

"Well, if we absolutely must push forward!" He winced at the thought of being slain or captured by one of the creatures, and fell in aside Brodd, although not before shooting him a glance that said one of them must return to bury this elf.

Brodd caught the look as they moved out, "We'll take care of him shortly Pock, thank you for your concern."

In reply to Einhard (msg # 126):

Alietra nods and strolls towards the opposing stairs.  She looks at the base of the stairs examining any signs of goblin laid traps. Pieces of rope, pressure plates, anything.  She waves the party to follow her, and starts climbing up the stairs with caution.

Alietra rolled 51 using 1d100.  Check for traps at base of stairs. Seems she didn't find anything! :/

Alietra doesn't find any traps. When the elf tumbled down the entire length he probably would have set them off on the way down.

Leohart follows the group, not wanting to be left on his own.

Alietra, Leohart, Einhard, Gorn, Creston, Pock, and Dwarghar carefully scale the stone foot as the rest of the party dig a grave for the elf and set camp.

[To be continued in next Scene]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Sun 20 Sept 2020.